Wave-motor.



J. H. HENDERSON.

WAVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 27, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'II Cu.,wAs|||NGToN, u. c

UNTTE STATE T ATENT FETCH.

JOHN H. HENDERSON, OF EAST OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

'WAVEJVIOTOR.

To all 107mm- ??6 may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. Hnnnnnsow, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of East Oakland, county ofAlameda, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvementsin i/Vave-h'lotors, of which the following is a specification.

An object of the invention is to utilize the impact power in addition tothe descending weight of ocean waves.

The invention possesses other advantageous features that, with theforegoing, will be set forth at length in the following description,where I shall outline in full that form of invention selected forillustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of thepresent specification. The novelty of the invention will be included inthe claims succeeding said description. From this. it will be apparentthat I do not restrict myself to the showing made by said drawings anddescription, as I may adopt many variations within the scope of myinventirm as expressed in said claims.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1, represents a wave motor installedin the surf and connected with an air con'ipressor installed on theshore in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view frombelow of the tipping frame. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the springdash pot.

In detail the construction consists of the tipping frame 1, pivoted at 2on the platform 3. This platform is supported upon the head of thehydraulic ram 4, operating in the cylinder 5, mounted upon the concretepier 6. This pier is built upon the submerged beach, the proper distanceout to derive the most power from the breakers rolling inward toward theshore. The platform is guided between the runways 7 embedded in theconcrete on both sides of the platform and braced by the braces S and 9.The platform is raised and lowered by the pump 10, mounted in the pumphouse 11, located upon the beach, preferably beyond the surf line. Theimpulses of the hand pump 10 are communicated through the pipe 12 to thecylinder 5, to raise the ram in an obvious manner. The platform islowered by opening the valve 13 that bleeds the contents of the cylinderback into the tank 1 1 under the pressure of the weight of the structuresupported by the ram. The ram system may be filled with oil, water, orany suitable liquid.

The tipping frame 1 is poised on the piv- Specifieation of LettersPatent.

Application filed December 27, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1 913.

Serial No. 738,846.

otal center 2 by the counter weights 15, mounted on the bars 16composing the frame 1, on the opposite side of the pivotal center. Theframe is preferably poised at about the angle illustrated in thedrawing. This angle is variable to best meet the particular surfconditions. The frame 1 is composed of T or angle bars 16, curved to thedesired shape and duplicated at the necessary intervals in the frame andproperly cross braced the curved end of the frame (in this instance thebeach end of the frame) is covered with the sheet metal or othermaterial 17 to act as the surface plane, to receive the impact of thesuccessive waves and retain them during the downward swing of thetipping frame. d

The plane 17 ispreferably given a substantially inverted parabolic curveto receive the horizontal thrust of the wave and transform it into adownward vertical thrust. The edge 18 of the plane is preferably setbelow the tide level a: by the proper manipulation of the hydraulic rammechanism. The onrush of the incoming wave causes it to divide on theedge 18; the upper or brealcer half travels up onto the curved plane,the peculiar curve of which causes it to be forced downward as thedirection of the wave is transl'ormml from the horizontal to thevertical plane; simultaiwously with the thrust of the wave its weightalso bears down upon the plane causing it to descend to or below thetide line referred to above.

The fall of the tipping frame is converted into available energy byattaching one end of a cable 15) to it at 20, that passes around thesheave 21, mounted on the shaft 29., ex tendingbetween the uprights 23)attached to the platform 23, and braced by the braces 24: and 2 t.Continuing, the cable passes inshore and around the sheave 25 and isfixed to the end of the piston rod 3 of the pump 27 at 26. Another cable28 secured to the frame at 20 extends inshore and is fixed to theopposite end of said piston red at 2t). To maintain the cable taut, thesheave is mounted in the end of the piston rod of a piston 36 confinedin a spring dash pot ill). The piston 36 is normally pressed bacluvardby means of the spring 3? and the rate of movement of the piston iscontrolled by a valve in the by-pass 38. This dash pot com-- pensatesfor any variation in the length of the cable in the rise and fall of thetipping frame.

The apparatus operates as follows: The

incoming wave dashes up onto the inclined plane'that is forced downwardby it as described. The fall of the plane exerts a pull on the cable 19that pulls the piston 39 within the pump 27 to the end of the cylinderCausing it to compress the air therein and force it past the check valve31 and into the reservoir 32. After the wave has passed off of theplane, the counter-weight 1-5 restores it to. the normal position. Therise of the plane pulling on the cable 28 returns the piston to thenormal position in the pump 27, ready for the next wave, to repeat theoperation.

While I have shown and described a simple air compressing out-fit forutilizing the power of the wave motor, it is obvious that the power maybe applied to other purposes without departure from the spirit of myinvention.

To prevent the tilting frame from dropping too far I have provided thebumper L0, extending from the side thereof and adapted to engage thebracket 33 extended in its path and fixed to the platform. Means may beattached to the pump for automatically causing the platform to adjustitself to the variations in tide level.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wave motor comprising a platform, means for raising and loweringsaid platform, a curved plane pivoted on said platform, a sheave mountedon said platform above the pivot of said plane, a resiliently mountedpulley, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, and a cable attached? tothe end of said plane and extending around said sheave and pulley andattached to the opposite sides of said piston. 40

said pivotal point, counterbalancing means attached to said frame at theopposite side of said pivotal point, a sheave mounted on said platformabove said pivotal point, a pulley mounted at a distance from saidsheave, a cable attached to said tipping frame and extending around saidsheave and pulley, a pump cylinder, and a piston in said cylinder to theopposite sides of which the ends of said cable are connected.

8. A wave motor comprising a vertically} adjustable plat-form mounted inthe surf, means for raising and lowering said platform from the beach,ati'ppi-ng plane piV-. oted on said platform, a sheave mounted on saidplatform above the pivot of said plane, a pulley mounted on the beach, acable attached to. the end of said plane, extending around said sheaveand pulley, a pump cylinder, and a piston in said cylinder to theopposite sides of which the ends of said cable are connected.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco,California, this 17th day of December 1912.

JOHN H. HENDERSQN.

In presence of BALDWIN VALE, P. S. PIDWELL.

Copies of thisv patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

